'Smelly' corner of south London could be transformed with new public park

A corner of Croydon town centre dubbed “windy, noisy and a bit smelly” would be transformed by the borough’s newest public park, the architect behind the plans has said.

College Green, a long-neglected stretch of land between Croydon College and Fairfield Halls, is the focus of ambitious new plans to turn the area into an accessible “urban meadow”. The proposals, released last month by Croydon Council, aim to revitalise the site as a vibrant green space for students, residents and visitors alike.

Currently, the site is dominated by hard tarmac landscaping and undefined open areas that contribute to its harsh and unwelcoming feel. Despite sitting in a highly visible location within the council-designated “cultural quarter”, it has remained largely unused and unloved in recent years.

Under the new plans, the concrete podium will be replaced with gardens, walkways, seating areas and space for community activity. At twice the size of Queen’s Gardens, College Green Gardens would be the first new public park in central Croydon in years.

“The green will come all the way up to the Park Lane bus stops, where it is currently windy, noisy and a bit smelly,” said Mark Tugman, Project Architect at MICA Architects. Mr Tugman, who is leading on the College Green project from the Camden-based practice, said the new space has been designed to provide year-round colour and variety.

“We have designed the gardens so that different flowers will pop out throughout the year,” he told the LDRS. “The trees have also been selected so they will blossom across the year.”

Features proposed for the space include wildflower planting, an amphitheatre-style seating area, a children’s play zone and picnic benches. A Multi-Use Games Area and dance space are also part of the plans, alongside improved cycle and pedestrian routes.

The gardens will also have upgraded lighting and CCTV to make the area feel safe and welcoming at all times. The site is intended to offer a secure foot and cycle way through to East Croydon Station as well as a place to relax, socialise and spend time outdoors.

Mr Tugman said the biggest challenge is designing something that works for everyone. “It needs to have something for everyone. We want to make it something Croydon can be proud of,” he told the LDRS.

College Green sits on top of a large underground car park serving Fairfield Halls, which includes 258 spaces and 21 disabled bays. Mr Tugman said the construction itself is not technically complex, though the council has yet to confirm whether parking access will be affected during the build phase.

The project will also revitalise The Cube, a café and studio space attached to Fairfield Halls, which currently overlooks hoardings and bare concrete. Under the plans, it will open onto a landscaped terrace at the heart of the new gardens.